Bermuda is set to become a transatlantic digital port as the tech giant Google officially starts work on laying subsea landing cables that will place the island at the centre of a landmark transatlantic communications link.

Members of Google’s infrastructural team met with government and other dignitaries today at Annie’s Bay, St David’s, to welcome the project.

Brian Quigley, the vice-president of global infrastructure for Google Cloud, told attendees: “Just as Bermudian cedar was the 17th-century accelerator to make you a shipping hub, these submarine cables make you the digital exchange hub directly between North America and Europe.”

He added: “It has been a community effort and we’re excited. We first talked about this in 2020, so here we are six years later.

“It’s amazing to see a vision become a reality and do it in a way where public, private and community join hands.”

The cables, Nuvem and Sol, will run between North America and Europe through Bermuda and are expected to arrive on island today or tomorrow.

Nuvem will connect Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Portugal, while Sol will run from Florida to Spain.

The move was done to strengthen connectivity between the continental digital cloud regions and meet the demands of Google’s growing artificial intelligence scheme.

The cables will run into two manholes on Annie’s Bay and connect to a digital exchange port under construction.

Mr Quigley said the US landing points were built into a ringlike system as far north as Virginia, which would maintain the connection if a port went down.

He assured attendees that the model would maintain environmental sustainability, as the digital exchange port will use the same amount of water as a single-family home.

Mr Quigley added that Google’s presence on the island would offer an investment into Bermuda, with the company’s assistance ranging from upgrading undersea cameras to offering educational opportunities.

It would include teaching digital literacy skills to St David’s Primary School pupils and free online digital courses through the Bermuda College, with 500 scholarships.

Mr Quigley added that the company would work with St David Island’s Historical Society to restore Annie’s Bay and its heritage trail.

The port was said to offer Bermuda access to stronger internet connections and to the digital cloud and AI services present in the US.

Mr Quigley said: “It’s critical that we foster and promote the communities where we serve traffic.

“It’s not just building infrastructure — it’s building partnerships.”

David Burt, the Premier, said the day marked “an important milestone for Bermuda” as it put the island at “the centre of global digital commerce”.

He added that this project had been nearly a decade in the making, capitalising on Bermuda’s key position in the Atlantic.

Mr Burt said: “Progress takes time and that’s something particularly important that I want persons to recognise.

“While many doubted whether or not we could attract a new generation of investment at this scale, this government kept its head down, we stayed true to our vision and we got the work done.”

Mr Burt said the cable-laying would open up job opportunities for Bermudians, while the training received in return would prime the workforce for a digital industry.

He added: “The investment that comes into this country is essentially about benefiting Bermudians today and into the future.”

Camille Haley, of the Bermuda Zoological Society, said the partnership with Google helped to realise the goal of creating new environmental stewards.

She explained that the access to new technology, from tablets to underwater drones, shifted how pupils learnt about the environment.

Ms Haley added that the partnership offered “high-quality science and environmental education” to all pupils, especially in public education.

“Together, we are creating opportunities that inspire discovery and a lifelong commitment to caring for our island home.

“Today, we celebrate a shared belief that investing in education, technology, environmental stewardship and community creates brighter futures.”